De-icing processes and products with coatings enabling de-icing are disclosed. The de-icing process includes mechanically removing ice from a coated article having a chemical vapor deposition coating. The chemical vapor deposition coating includes silicon, carbon, and fluorine. The chemical vapor deposition coating is hydrophobic and oleophobic. The chemical vapor deposition coating remains hydrophobic and oleophobic after the mechanically removing of the ice. The product is a coated article having a chemical vapor deposition coating and ice on the chemical vapor deposition coating. The chemical vapor deposition coating includes silicon, carbon, and fluorine. The chemical vapor deposition coating is hydrophobic and oleophobic. The chemical vapor deposition coating remains hydrophobic and oleophobic in response to mechanically removing of the ice on the chemical vapor deposition coating.

An airfoil of an aircraft with an ice protection system, the airfoil having a leading edge, the ice protection system comprising a first applying mechanism for applying an ice protection fluid along at least a portion of the leading edge of the airfoil, and an ice protection fluid recovering mechanism for recovering the ice protection fluid applied by the first applying mechanism, the ice protection fluid recovering mechanism being arranged downstream of the leading edge of the airfoil. The ice protection system further comprises a second applying mechanism for applying the ice protection fluid recovered by the ice protection fluid recovering mechanism on at least one area of the airfoil arranged downstream of the leading edge of the airfoil. An aircraft may comprise at least one airfoil provided with the ice protection system. A method may be used to protect the airfoil of an aircraft from ice accumulation.

An airfoil of an aircraft with an ice protection system, the airfoil having a leading edge, the ice protection system comprising a first applying mechanism for applying an ice protection fluid along at least a portion of the leading edge of the airfoil, and an ice protection fluid recovering mechanism for recovering the ice protection fluid applied by the first applying mechanism, the ice protection fluid recovering mechanism being arranged downstream of the leading edge of the airfoil. The ice protection system further comprises a second applying mechanism for applying the ice protection fluid recovered by the ice protection fluid recovering mechanism on at least one area of the airfoil arranged downstream of the leading edge of the airfoil. An aircraft may comprise at least one airfoil provided with the ice protection system. A method may be used to protect the airfoil of an aircraft from ice accumulation.

An ice protection system adapted to protect at least one ice-susceptible flight surface of an aircraft includes a mechanical ice protection device attached to the flight surface. A controller controls a power source that causes the mechanical ice protection device to change in shape and, thereby, change an aerodynamic characteristic of the flight surface. This change in shape happens only when the current thickness of ice on the surface exceeds a minimum thickness and the minimum thickness is based on attitude of the aircraft.

An ice protection system adapted to protect at least one ice-susceptible flight surface of an aircraft includes a mechanical ice protection device attached to the flight surface. A controller controls a power source that causes the mechanical ice protection device to change in shape and, thereby, change an aerodynamic characteristic of the flight surface. This change in shape happens only when the current thickness of ice on the surface exceeds a minimum thickness and the minimum thickness is based on attitude of the aircraft.

An electro-pneumatic de-icer for an airfoil includes an electrically-powered compressor for compressing air, an air-storage tank for storing compressed air, a source of negative pressure, an airfoil pneumatic boot, and a control valve located between 1) the air-storage tank, 2) the source of negative pressure, and 3) the pneumatic boot for cycling between compressed air to inflate the pneumatic boot and negative pressure to deflate the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil. An airfoil de-icing method lacking engine bleed air extraction includes compressing air with an electrically-powered compressor, storing high-pressure air from the compressor in an air-storage tank, delivering high-pressure air from the air-storage tank to inflate a pneumatic boot located along an airfoil, providing a negative-pressure source, deflating the pneumatic boot with the negative-pressure source, and alternating between inflating and deflating the pneumatic boot for cracking accumulated ice on the airfoil.

A method of deicing an airfoil is provided. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises coupling a plurality of piezo-electric transducers (PETs) to an inside surface of an airfoil. The PETs are electrically coupled to a DC-DC converter and a first inverter. The PETs are driven by sweeping the driving frequency of the plurality of PETs over a frequency range that spans at least 10 kHz and 100 kHz. In preferred embodiments, some PETs are driven at a phase shift to the other PETs.

The present invention thus proposes an inlet cone for an aircraft turbine engine, comprising a frustoconical body and a tip made from elastically deformable material fixed to an end of smaller diameter of said body, the tip comprising a top configured to be situated on an axis of rotation of the cone and a fastening base for attachment on said end of said body. Said base extends in a connecting plane P. Said connecting plane P is inclined relative to said axis of rotation. Said base has a generally circular or oval shape. According to the invention, said connecting plane P is inclined relative to a transverse plane T perpendicular to said axis of rotation.

The present invention thus proposes an inlet cone for an aircraft turbine engine, comprising a frustoconical body and a tip made from elastically deformable material fixed to an end of smaller diameter of said body, the tip comprising a top configured to be situated on an axis of rotation of the cone and a fastening base for attachment on said end of said body. Said base extends in a connecting plane P. Said connecting plane P is inclined relative to said axis of rotation. Said base has a generally circular or oval shape. According to the invention, said connecting plane P is inclined relative to a transverse plane T perpendicular to said axis of rotation.

An anti-icing system may comprise a deicing boot of an elastomeric material comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein the deicing boot comprises a first set of tubes and a second set of tubes, wherein each of the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes have a corresponding end, and wherein the corresponding end is coupled to a continuous dual wrap end closure.